Some of her peculiar expressions were by-words with us for many years.
I once heard a good man say that "by-words" were side doors to profanity.
Half the young men in London, whose names are by-words, are intensely and hopelessly virtuous.
"By-words," beside being senseless things, are very apt as you say, to lead one at last into using profane by-words.
If they hear them interlard their conversation with by-words and oaths, they will be strongly tempted to do the same.
The habit of using "by-words" seems to be growing among our young people, both girls and boys.
